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Cubs hold off Brewers to complete sweep

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Russell's solo homer 0:45

8/2/15: Addison Russell adds to the Cubs lead with a towering solo home run to deep center in the top of the 2nd inning

By Brandon Curry and Carrie Muskat
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MLB.com |

MILWAUKEE -- Addison Russell smacked a solo home run to back Clayton Richard, who helped himself by hitting an RBI double, leading the Cubs to a 4-3 victory Sunday over the Brewers to complete a four-game sweep. However, Chicago rookie Kris Bryant had to leave the game in the fifth inning after a headfirst slide into second.

Making his fourth start with the Cubs, Richard scattered five hits over six innings. The lefty also doubled in the fourth, his first hit in eight at-bats with the team.

Cubs third baseman was shaken up after sliding into second base

MILWAUKEE -- Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant had to leave Sunday's game in the fifth inning of the Cubs' 4-3 win over the Brewers after a headfirst slide into second base.

The Cubs had runners at first and second with one out when Bryant lofted a ball to center. A run scored on the single, and Bryant tried to extend his single by going to second and sliding head-first under shortstop Jean Segura.

MILWAUKEE -- This may be Dan Haren's last big league season, and if it is, the right-hander wants to go out with a winner.

Acquired on Friday from the Marlins, Haren will make his Cubs debut Wednesday in the series finale against the Pirates. When the trade was finalized, Haren posted on his Twitter account that he would be wearing No. 50.

Cubs face test this week vs. Wild Card foes

Series against Pirates and Giants are key for young club

MILWAUKEE -- If the Cubs want to gain some ground in the Wild Card race, this week will be a good time to do so as they face both the Pirates and Giants, the two teams ahead of them. Manager Joe Maddon sticks to a "one day at a time" approach. The Pirates and Giants both have postseason experience, something the young Cubs don't have.

"There's definitely an advantage -- 'been there done that,' no question," Maddon said Sunday. "But at the same time, you have a bunch of hungry guys coming on which can be, in and of itself, a good position to be in."

Lester looks to build on 14-strikeout outing in opener

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Lester strikes out 14 2:01

7/29/15: Jon Lester gives up two runs on five hits and strikes out 14 over eight innings, including six straight batters

By Robert Bondy
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MLB.com |

With the Wild Card race heating up, the Pirates and Cubs will renew their National League Central Division rivalry with a three-game series from PNC Park starting on Monday. First pitch is at 7:05 p.m. ET.

Both the Pirates and Cubs are in the middle of a heated battle for a pair of NL Wild Card spots as the Cardinals continue to hold onto a tight grip in the division race. Chicago holds the season series advantage over the Pirates with a 6-4 record. The last time these two teams met was on May 17.

Rizzo smacked his fourth homer in as many games, a three-run shot in the third, to power the Cubs to a 4-2 victory Saturday night over the Brewers. It was the Cubs' fourth straight win, and Rizzo notched his 20th home run, the third time in his young career that he's reached that mark.

Rizzo continues to torment Brewers

8/1/15: Anthony Rizzo launches a three-run home run, his 20th of the season, to right field to open the scoring in the 3rd inning

By Carrie Muskat and Brandon Curry
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MLB.com |

MILWAUKEE -- Anthony Rizzo belted his fourth homer in as many games, a three-run shot in the third, and rookie Kyle Schwarber added a solo home run to power the Cubs to a 4-2 victory Saturday night over the Brewers for their fourth straight win.

Kyle Hendricks scattered four hits over seven-plus innings for the win, his first since July 5. In his 21 starts, the right-hander has 11 no-decisions, the most by any pitcher in the Majors.

Schwarber's approach impressing Maddon

MILWAUKEE -- Kyle Schwarber passed more tests Saturday night in his crash course on how to play in the big leagues. The rookie hit his fourth big league home run in the Cubs' 4-2 victory over the Brewers, but he also battled starter Matt Garza in an 11-pitch at-bat, and coaxed relievers Jason Motte and newcomer Tommy Hunter in a stressful ninth.

The long at-bat against Garza came with two outs in the third and helped set up Anthony Rizzo's three-run homer. Cubs manager Joe Maddon liked Schwarber's approach with each pitch.

Deal allows Hunter to be close to ailing mother

MILWAUKEE -- Tommy Hunter could not have been traded to Chicago at a better time. It's not that the right-handed reliever didn't like pitching for the Orioles, but now that he's with the Cubs, he'll be closer to his mother, who is battling cancer.

Hunter grew up in Indianapolis, and his mother still lives there. She recently had surgery to combat kidney cancer.

In best start since early July leg injury, Cubs starter improves to 7-0 vs. Milwaukee, 5-0 at Miller Park

MILWAUKEE -- The Cubs have reinforcements coming with the Friday additions of pitchers Dan Haren and Tommy Hunter, but the best news may have been that starter Jason Hammel had his best outing since a minor leg injury in early July. Of course, Miller Park may have had something to do with Hammel's success.

Hammel held the Brewers to one run over 5 2/3 innings in the Cubs' 4-1 victory Friday. It was the right-hander's third start after the All-Star break and best since July 3, when he went seven. On July 8, he was limited to one inning because of a strained left hamstring.

MILWAUKEE -- The Cubs acquired two pitchers at the Trade Deadline on Friday, and president of baseball operations Theo Epstein said they were close on adding some other players but were unable to complete those deals. What makes that tolerable, Epstein said, is that those targeted players weren't traded at all.

On Friday, the Cubs filled the fifth spot in the rotation by acquiring Dan Haren from the Marlins for two Minor Leaguers, and then they made a deal with the Orioles for hard-throwing reliever Tommy Hunter.

Rizzo's homer caps Cubs' win over Brewers

7/31/15: Anthony Rizzo gives the Cubs a three-run lead in the 7th with a solo home run to right field, his 19th of the season

By Carrie Muskat and Brandon Curry
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MLB.com |

MILWAUKEE -- Anthony Rizzo belted his third homer in as many games, Starlin Castro drove in two runs and Jason Hammel continued to frustrate the Brewers as the Cubs posted a 4-1 victory Friday night in front of 35,669 at Miller Park.

Hammel served up six hits, including Ryan Braun's 19th home run with two outs in the first. The Cubs right-hander improved to 7-0 in nine career starts against the Brewers, who also are a favorite target for Rizzo. The first baseman, who hit a three-run blast on Thursday, now has 12 homers against Milwaukee, his most against any team.

Carrie Muskat is a reporter for MLB.com. She writes a blog, Muskat Ramblings. You can follow her on Twitter @CarrieMuskat and listen to her podcast. Brandon Curry is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

MILWAUKEE -- As much as Starlin Castro tried to tune out all the rumors leading up to the Trade Deadline, it wasn't easy. He got frustrated and had to reprimand some family members who called to ask about the gossip.

"I didn't really watch TV or watch rumors," Castro said after driving in two runs in the Cubs' 4-1 victory over the Brewers on Friday night. "Sometimes people, even family, would call me and tell me, 'We see you in the news,' and I say, 'Don't call me for that.'

Cubs come through late to deny Brewers

7/30/15: Anthony Rizzo launches a go-ahead, three-run home run in the 8th inning to lead the Cubs past the Brewers

By Carrie Muskat and Brandon Curry
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MLB.com |

MILWAUKEE -- Anthony Rizzo smacked a three-run homer with two outs in the eighth inning and rookies Kris Bryant and Kyle Schwarber each drove in a run in the ninth to lift the Cubs to a 5-2 victory over the Brewers on Thursday night.

Carrie Muskat is a reporter for MLB.com. She writes a blog, Muskat Ramblings. You can follow her on Twitter @CarrieMuskat and listen to her podcast. Brandon Curry is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Montero eager to return to action

MILWAUKEE -- Catcher Miguel Montero, examined by a hand specialist in Chicago on Thursday, said he's ready to go. Manager Joe Maddon wants to check with the medical staff but expects that Montero will need some rehab games.

Montero has been on the disabled list since July 12 with a sprained left thumb. He's been rehabbing in Arizona, and hitting for at least a week there. On Thursday he underwent another MRI to make sure the thumb is healed.

Lester K's 14 as Cubs take series from Rockies

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Lester strikes out 14 2:01

7/29/15: Jon Lester gives up two runs on five hits and strikes out 14 over eight innings, including six straight batters

By Greg Garno and Thomas Harding
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MLB.com |

CHICAGO -- Jon Lester struck out a season-high 14 batters across eight innings as the Cubs defeated the Rockies on Wednesday, 3-2, to take two of three games in the series at Wrigley Field. Lester became the first Cubs pitcher since Mark Prior in 2004 to throw 14 strikeouts, helping Chicago improve to two games above .500 in July.

Lester finished one strikeout shy of his career high, with at least one K in every inning, including six straight early on. He allowed five hits and one walk in his two-run performance to pick up just his sixth win of the season.

Lefty boosts Chicago with 14-K performance at Wrigley Field

CHICAGO -- Jon Lester doesn't forget July 31. It's his son Hudson's birthday. It's also the day Lester was traded from the Red Sox, which had been the only team he'd played for, to the Athletics a year ago.

"Last year made for an interesting birthday," Lester said after a dominant performance in the Cubs' 3-2 victory over the Rockies on Wednesday.

CHICAGO -- Kyle Schwarber had a different perspective in Wednesday's 3-2 win over the Rockies at Wrigley Field. Instead of being behind the plate, he was in left field, making his first start in the outfield for the Cubs. He only caught one fly ball, and that was hit by Charlie Blackmon to end the eighth inning -- and Schwarber used both hands.

"I just wanted to secure the catch with two hands," Schwarber said. "I didn't want it to squirt out with one."

Ramirez to DL in flurry of moves for Cubs

Chicago adds Medina, Rowen to bullpen; Beeler optioned, Baxter DFA'd

CHICAGO -- Neil Ramirez sneezed on Sunday and felt a sharp pain on his left side. The right-hander now is on the disabled list because of what's being described as abdominal soreness, which he felt warming up Tuesday night.

Cubs fall to Rockies after Beeler falters

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Soler's RBI single 0:43

7/28/15: Jorge Soler singles into the outfield to score Kyle Schwarber and put the Cubs on the board in the 1st inning

By Thomas Harding and Carrie Muskat
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MLB.com |

CHICAGO -- DJ LeMahieu had three hits, including an RBI double and a triple, and Nolan Arenado smacked a two-run double to power the Rockies to a 7-2 victory over the Cubs on Tuesday night and even the series at one win apiece.

This was the Rockies' first game after Troy Tulowitzki was traded to the Blue Jays, and they got off to a quick start, sending all nine batters to the plate in the first inning and scoring four runs against Chicago right-hander Dallas Beeler.

Cubs host kids as part of PLAY campaign

CHICAGO -- When reliever Jason Motte warned 80 kids from two Chicago Boys and Girls Clubs on Tuesday about the dangers of performance-enhancing drugs, one boy asked if there are other ways to get bigger physically.